Illuminating apparatus for ovens or the like



June 27, 1939. c. J. GRAYsoN 2,164,239

ILLUMINATING APPARATUS FOR OVENS OR LIKE Filed June 5, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l v7. Ggqyson,

@mZ/ang hables June 27, 1939. c. .1. GRAYsoN 2,154,239

ILLUMINATING APPARTUS FOR OVENS OR THE LIKE Filed. June V5, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Chaz/Zes I Grgalzydjozz,

r'atented June 27, 1939 ILLUMINATING APPARATUS FOR OVENS 0R THE LIKE Charles J. Grayson, Huntington, or to Grayson Manufacturing ington, W. Va., a corporation W. Va., assign- Company, Huntof West Virginia Application June 5, 1936, Serial No, 83,747

18 Claims.

My present invention relates to improvements in apparatus for illuminating ovens or the like.

An object of the invention is to provide an oven lighting device of novel and efficient design and sturdy and simple construction.

A further object is the provision of an oven light unit and housing so mounted according to the invention as to be readily accessible and readily removable at all times.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the features and combination of parts as described and as particularly set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through an oven embodying the invention, with portions of the oven broken away.

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the in another position.

Fig. 3 is a similar View showing the parts in another position of adjustment.

Fig, 4 is a view of the light unit and associated structure from the interior of the oven looking toward the back wall of the oven,

Fig. 5 is a partial side elevation of the unit comprising the light housing and switch mechamsm.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental rear view of the same.

Fig. '7 is a sectional plan view of the light housing.

Referring to the drawings, I represents an electric light socket secured to a cover plate member 2 by means of screws or like fastening means 3 which engage the ange 4 of the socket.

parts shown Also secured to the cover plate 2 is a switch op- I erating assembly unit comprising a tubular housing or T member 5 having a iinaged base 5a.

engaging the plate 2 and secured thereto, and to the light socket I and the flangell of the socket by screws 6 extending therethrough.

Within the vertical passage of the housing or T 5 is mounted vertically reciprocating switch plunger 'I and the barrel or collar 8 which slidably receives the plunger l, and in which is positioned the spring 9 engaging a shoulder on the plunger and urging it upwardly.

At its lower end the plunger l carries a contact member la, and is so positioned in respect to contact points I0 and II as to engage them when the plunger is moved to its upper position by the spring' 9, and to disengage them when the plunger is moved downwardly against the action of the spring, to turn off the light.

Means for depressing the plunger 'I to turn off the light are provided in the transverse passage of the housing or T member 5, and comprise opposed shaft members I2 and I3, the former operable by the door controlled rod I4 which extends through the oven from front to rear and the latter being manually operable.

The adjacent ends of the plunger 'I, and the shafts I2 and I3, are so shaped, as by being substantially conical as shown, that movement of the shafts against the end of the plunger will depress the same.

As indicated in Fig. l, the shaft member I2 is of such diameter, conical taper of its end, and length of stroke actuated by rod I4, that it will engage and depress the plunger "I, but its straight non-tapered surface will not ride upon the extreme end of the plunger, and as soon as the rod I4 is released by opening of the door I5, the spring 9 will force the plunger I up, which, by reason of the tapered ends, will also move the shaft I2 and rod I4 laterally, as Well as making contact for the electric lamp, as shown in Fig. 2. The member I2 provides in effect a separable part of the actuating rod I4. The inward movement of the member ,I2 is positively limited by the head I2a thereofl so that under no conditions can the straight side of the member I2 ride upon the extreme end of the plunger 'I.

The manually operable shaft member I3, however, is of smaller diameter than shaft member I2, and is designed when pushed in to depress the plunger I until its straight non-tapered surface rides over and crosses the end of the plunger and remains in this position until pushed back,

`as by the rod and shaft I2 on the closing of the door I5, as will be apparent from Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings.

The shaft member I3 is intended to be used as a means of breaking the contact points to shut off the light when the oven door is required to be open for an indefinite period of time, and if the light is not needed. This is only pushed in manually when the door is to remain open for an extended period and the light is not desired. When the oven door is again closed, the rod I4 moves inward pushing shaft I2 along with it, thereby forcing shaft I3 off the end of the plunger "I, and bringing the tapered end of shaft member I2 into contact with the tapered end of plunger or switch button l to maintain the same depressed against the action of spring 9 with the light off until the door is again opened.

The end of the switch button or plunger 'I is preferably attened, as indicated.

The proper distance of movement of rod I4 and shaft I2 is controlled by shoulders I6 and I'I coming into contact with the bottom of the screw tap I8 and the back of the outside of the oven lining I9, respectively.

Rod I4 is held in proper position for operation of the switch by means of shoulder screws and 2| and an embossing 22 provides a recess to allow the head 23 of the rod to recede sufciently to become flush with the surface against which the door rests in closed position. Preferably the rod I4 is disposed between the oven inside lining 24 and the outside lining 25.

According to the invention, the light is disposed in a chamber or compartment 26, so mounted that the light is located entirely outside of the oven, so that there can be no interference between the light means and the use of the oven which may be of any type employing any kind of fuel.

The box or chamber body 26, excepting the cover plate 2, which, together with the attached lswitch and lamp, is removable as a unit, is inserted from the inside of the oven through an opening in the rear oven wall as shown. The front open side of the box 26 is closed by placing thereover a frame 26a holding glass 21 between it and projections on the lateral side walls of the box, which may be provided by strips 28 as shown.

lScrews 29 may be used extending through the sides of the frame and walls. A flange 3G on the frame engages the inner oven lining around the opening and retains the light box in place by means of screws, as indicated at 3l. As shown at 32, the edge of the frame is preferably turned in providing a bezel to engage the glass.

The top of the box 26 is provided with a wall 33 which covers that portion of the box which is to be disposed within the outer oven wall, and the top wall 33 may be turned down at its outer edge as shown at 34. This edge is met by the inner edge of the removable cover plate 2 which on its other three edges is provided with a depending flange 2a to fit over the box body and which ange is noted at 2b to engage clamp screws 38 in the box walls which hold the plate and the lamp and switch assembly in place, as shown in Fig. 5. 'Ihe back wall of the box 26 is recessed at the upper edge, as shown at 34 in Fig. 6, to provide an opening when the plate 2 is in place for the light cord 35 to pass through.

In case the electric light bulb should burn out, or access to the box, or to the light and switch assembly, be desired, provision is thus made for the ready removal of the cover plate to which the bulb socket and switch housing are attached. Since the cord 35 rests in the vertical slot or recess 34 in the casing 26, the entire switch, socket, bulb and cord assembly is readily removable entirely and as a unit away from the casing 26 without disturbing any other part of the apparatus.

Louvers 36 and holes 31 may preferably be pro vided as a means for air circulation.

Suitable insulating material, such as rock wool, may be'employed in the oven wall space and the lamp box`26 holds tho insulation in place at the opening in the wall which receives the box.

I claim:

l. In combination with walls forming a chamber for an oven or the like and including a door, and lighting means-for said chamber, a switch plunger for controlling said lighting means, separate operating members for said plunger, means for actuating one of said operating members by each closing of the door, the other of said oper-Y ating members being manually operable when the door is open, said switch plunger being spring pressed to close the switch, a. T-shaped housing having a passage to receive said plunger and a passage transverse to said first mentioned passage, said separate operating members comprising aligned shafts slidably disposed in said transverse passage, one on either side of said plunger, said plunger having a taper at its upper end, said shafts being independently slidable and each having a substantially tapered end surface which when moved toward the plunger engages the taper on the end of thc plunger to move the plunger to open the switch, said actuating means comprising a slidable rod aligning with and engaging said one of said aligned operating shaft members, said parts being so constructed that the manually operable shaft member when operated will slide over the extreme end of the plunger to lock the same in moved position and the said one of said shaft members will not slide over the extreme end of the plunger' when operated, and on the opening of the door will be pushed back by the spring-pressed plunger, said one of said shaft members in closing of the door being actuated by said rod to engage the end of said manually operable shaft member when in locked position and to push against and retract the same.

2. Apparatus according to claim l in which shoulders and heads are provided on said operating shaft members to limit their movement in either direction.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said operating shalt members are of different diameters providing tapered contacting surfaces of diierent extent.

4. Apparatus according to claim l in which a stop is provided on said one of said shaft members to limit its movement toward the plunger so that it cannot slide over the extreme end of the plunger.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the extreme end of said plunger is flattened to provide. a surface to engage the side of the manually operable shaft member.

6. In combination, walls forming a chamber for an oven or the like and including a door, a lamp housing disposed cxteriorly of said chamber at an opening in a wall, said housing having a removable wall portion, and a lamp and lamp socket and switch mechanism secured to Said wall portion, and removable as a unit therewith from contact with other parts of the apparatus, and means actuated by said door and normally in position for engagement with said switch mechanism, said lamp housing apart from said removable wall portion comprising back, side, bottom, and top wall portions, and a translucent front wall held in place by a anged frame tting over the front end of the housing and secured thereto by suitable meansfthis entire assembly being insertable and removable as a unit through the opening in the chamber' wall from the inside of the chamber and secured thereto by screws or the like.

7. In combination, walls forming a chamber for an oven or the like and including a door, a lamp housing disposed exteriorly of said chamber at an opening in a wall, said housing having a removable wall portion, and a lamp and lamp socket and switch mechanism secured to said wall portion, and removable as a unit therewith from contact with other parts of the apparatus, and means actuated by said door and normally in position for engagement with said switch mechanism, said lamp socket and lamp being mounted inside said removable wall portion, and

said switch mechanism extending through and being disposed outside said Wall portion, and said door actuated means comprising a slidable rod mounted withinsaid chamber and having free ends one for engagement by the door andthe other for engagement with said switch mechanism, said removable wall portion having a depending flange to fit over the housing and notches in said ange, thumb screws in walls of the housing to be received in said notches to clamp the removable wall portion in place, a wall of said housing having a notched opening therein for passage and ready removal of the lamp cord.

8. In combination in mechanism for lighting an oven or the like closed by a door, a lamp, a switch controlling said lamp, means for closing said switch to energize said lamp when the oven door is opened, means operated by the closing of the oven door for opening said switch to put out the lamp when the oven door is closed, a hand operated device disposed to positively move said switch to open position to put out said lamp when the door is open, said hand operated means being also disposed to be -directly engaged by and positively moved to idle position by the said door operated means as a consequence of the closing of the door, said door operated means assuming control of said switch as the hand operated device relinquishes its control.

9. In combination in an electric switch mechanism a switch member for opening and closing an electric circuit, a sliding rod having an.in clined face for operating said member to open the circuit, `when pressure is applied to said rod, spring means for operating said switch member to close the circuit when pressure on said rod is relieved, and a manually operable rod also having an inclined end for operating said switch member for opening the circuit, said manually operable rod holding the member in its circuit breaking position, said sliding and manually operable rods being axially in line with each other, said sliding rod when operated to move said member to circuit breaking` position contacting and restoring the manually operable rod to idle position.

10. A switch according to.claim 9 in which the manually operable rod has sufficient movement to bring a holding surface thereon into contact with said member after its inclined portion has moved said member to circuit opening position, said circuit closing switch member reacting on the manually operable rod to retain it in operated position until restored to idle position by the pressure from the sliding rod, substantially as described.

11. In combination in an electric switch, a circuit closer having a tapered end, a spring for operating said circuit closer to close the circuit, a rod movable in a direction transverse to the line of movement of the circuit closer and having a tapered end to engage the tapered end of the circuit closer, means for operating said rod to move the circuit closer to open said circuit, a manually operable member having a tapered end engageable with the tapered end of the circuit closer for operating the same to open the circuit,

said manually operable member being operable to a position to bring a portion thereof in position to hold the'circuit closer to maintain the circuit open, said manually operable member being operated to idle position by the setting of the rod into position for holding the switch member in position to open the circuit, substantially as described.

12. In combination with walls forming a chamber for an oven or the like and including a door and lighting means for said chamber, a switch plunger for controlling said lighting means, separate slidable operating members for said plunger extending in alignment transversely of the plunger and disposedon opposite sides thereof, said slidable members being independently movable and each being constructed to move the plunger when moved toward the same, means for actuating one of said operating members by each closing of the door, the other of said operating members being manually operable when the door is open, said manual operating member being engageable by said one operating member upon actuation of the latter to retract the manual member from operated position.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 in which said switch plunger is spring pressed to close the switch, a T-shaped housing having a passage to receive said plunger, and a passage transverse to said ilrst mentioned passage, said separate operating members comprising aligned shafts disposed in said transverse passage one on either side of the plunger.

14. Apparatus according to claim 12 in which said separate operating members comprise aligned shafts extending transversely of the plunger, means for actuating one of said operating shaft members by the closing of the door, comprising a slide rod in alignment with said slidable shaft members, and positioned for actuating engagement with said one of said operating shaft members.

15. Apparatus according to claim 12 including means whereby the manually operable member is adapted to slide across the extreme end of the plunger to lock the same in moved position until said shaft member is positively retracted, and means whereby said one of said shaft members is prevented from sliding over the extreme end of the plunger.

16. Apparatus according to claim l2 in which said separate operating members comprise aligned slidable shafts extending transversely of the plunger and disposed on opposite sides thereof, said slidable shafts being independently movable, the manually operable shaftvmember being constructed to move against and to move the plunger and to slide over the extreme end thereof and to lock the same in moved position, and means whereby the said one of said operating shaft members is prevented from sliding over the extreme end of the plunger, the said. one of said shaft members upon actuation engaging and retracting the manually operable shaft member when the latter is in locking position.

17. In combination, a switch member for opening and closing a circuit, a sliding member for operating said switch member, a manually operable member for operating said switch member, said sliding and manually operable members be- .ing axially in line and extending in a direction p pered ends to engage the tapered end of the plunger to move the plunger to open the switch, said switch plunger being spring pressed to close the switch, a slidable rod for actuating one of said operating members by each closing of the oven door, the other of said operating members being manually operable when the door is open,

said separate operating members being in alignment and said one of said operating members being constructed to be actuated by the closing of the door to engage and retract the said manually operable member after the latter has been manually actuated to depress the plunger.

CHARLES J. GRAYSON. 

